Mount Olive, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell in an 87-57 final score to the University of Mount Olive Trojans on Saturday evening.
 
The Warriors shot 32.8% from the field and went 25% from beyond the three point line in the loss.  Amy Soumare led the team with 12 points.  She was followed by Caroline Reese with 11 points and Diamond Ellison with 10.  Southern Wesleyan had eight assists with Lonesha Lee and Tristen Berry leading the way with three assists apiece.
 
Southern Wesleyan put up 26 rebounds during the game.  Soumare led the team with 12.  Berry had the lone block of the game for the Warriors.  Soumare led the team with two of the six steals.
 
 
Game Vitals
 
Final: Mount Olive 87, Southern Wesleyan 57
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-6 / CC 1-5) Mount Olive (4-3 / CC 4-3)
 
 
How It Happened
 
The University of Mount Olive took an early lead as Ayonna Cotton sunk a three pointer to give them a 3-0 lead.  Brooke Henricks hit a jump shot to put the Warriors within three of the Trojans to make the score 2-5.  Southern Wesleyan continued to put up a fight against the Trojans on a jump shot by Amy Soumare.  Caroline Reese sunk a jump shot to put the Warriors within two points of the Trojans.  With Mount Olive leading, Diamond Ellison and Reese sunk back-to-back three point shots to keep the Warriors within two points of the Trojans and make the score 14-16.  Mount Olive countered, extending their lead to 14-19 with a three point shot by Teliyah Owens, but Southern Wesleyan came back within two on a three by Tristen Berry.  Free throw baskets by Ellison allowed the Warriors to tie the Trojans 19-19.  Seconds letter, a three pointer by Reese off a pass by Ellison allowed the Warriors to take their first lead of the game with a 22-21 point advantage.
 
Azariah Fields sunk the first points of the second quarter with a jump shot to put the Trojans behind the Warriors 25-23.  Soumare put the Warriors back ahead by four with a layup under the basket.  Mount Olive challenged the Warriors defense, as Cotton put up a three to put the Trojans down by just one point with just under seven minutes left in the second quarter of play.  The challenge paid off as Cotton sunk another three point to put Mount Olive ahead 29-27.  Despite some free throws by Lonesha Lee, the Warriors trailed the Trojans 29-43 at the half.
 
Free throws by Ivanda Hudjakova allowed the Trojans to take their lead to 45-29.  Soumare laid the ball up to put the Warriors down 18-points with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter of the game.  Despite several three point attempts by Berry and Reese, Mount Olive continued to push ahead, taking a 61-31 point lead on a 3-pointer by Leah Williams.
 
Mount Olive struck first in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Haleigh Crews to put them ahead 75-31.  The Warriors countered with a jump shot by Soumare.  Free throws by Treasure Lone allowed the Warriors to come to 35-75 behind the Trojans.  Soumare sunk her tenth point of the game, giving her her third double-double game of the season.  Berry sunk her second three pointer of the game to put the Warriors down 42-81 with just over five minutes left in the final quarter of play.  The Warriors continued to chip away with a three by Ellison, but the Trojans countered with a three pointer of their own.  Henricks stole the ball away from the Trojans and put up a jump shot to put Southern Wesleyan down 50-87.  Despite late a layup by Soumare and free throws by Essence Sims, the Warriors fell in a 57-87 final score.
 
 
What's Next
 
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on February 2 as they travel to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Converse Valkyries.  The Warriors will then return to Central, SC as they welcome to the Chowan Hawks to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on February 5 and 6.